Tag: petsaver

Look no further for how to remove that lingering skunk odor when your pet is sprayed by a skunk!

Product Overview:

NATURE’S MIRACLE® Skunk Odor Remover is the go-to option for pet owners looking to remove stubborn skunk odors from both pets and surfaces. Our powerful, bio-enzymatic formula works to neutralize skunk odors by breaking down oils found in skunk spray and effectively removes odors from directly-sprayed pets as well as products that have come into contact with a skunked pet such as bedding or clothing. Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover may be used on pets, carpets, hard surfaces, clothing kennels, and carriers for skunk-related odors.

How it works:

Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover works to break down the toughest skunk odors—in contrast to many products on the market that may simply mask or cover up odors with perfumes or scents. Our bio-enzymatic formula works to effectively break down and neutralizes skunk oils and other odor-causing matter to permanently eliminate many unpleasant smells. Due to this process, Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover works best when given time to dry naturally (sometimes taking up to two weeks on certain surfaces). Pets should also be allowed to air dry before bathing or additional applications.

Open Farm Dog Food – Feed with a Clear Conscience

There is no denying that high quality protein is the building block of a healthy canine diet.

As a former vegetarian, it has always been hard for me to cope with the fact that despite buying high quality kibble for our dogs, the source of the protein in this food is not selected with the same care as the meat I buy for myself.

The reality is that even when meat is sourced in the USA, the protein in your favorite kibble is likely part of the factory farming system which places company profit over the welfare of animals. As an animal lover, it is difficult to rationalize advocating for the care of animals while at the same time supporting this industry.

This is why we are so excited to tell you about Open Farm Pet Food – a company that is making a huge commitment to changing an industry.

Open Farm Pet Food

Open Farm is a family run company based in Toronto, Canada. Aside from creating some of the healthiest dog food available, the major thing that sets them apart is that all of their ingredients are ethically sourced. This means taking great care and effort to source both humanely raised meat as well as fresh and local vegetables.

The Recipe’s and Ingredients

Open Farm currently offers 3 wholesome recipes – formulated to be interchangeable in a rotational diet:

Homestead Turkey & Chicken

Catch-of-the-Season Whitefish & Green Lentil

Farmer’s Market Pork & Root Vegetable

Each formulation contains roughly 30% protein and 14% fat. Furthermore, you won’t find any “meat meals” in their food which are often unregulated and difficult to trace. Open Farm dog food is also grain free in addition to being free of wheat, corn or soy.

Finding What’s Right for You

Since switching to a homemade diet, it is much easier to know where the meat that I feed the boys comes from. While I can scream from the rooftops about the positive changes we have seen in our boys since switching to this diet….

5 Reasons to Check Your Dog’s Paws

By Laurie Darroch

A dog’s paws may seem callused and tough, and capable of withstanding the harshest terrain, but they need to be cared for like any other part of a dog’s body. Prevention is also key in keeping your dog’s paws, toes and pads in good health. Here are five reasons you will want to examine your dog’s paws.

Seasonal Damage

A dog’s paws are subject to damage caused by the changes of the seasons. The extreme cold of winter weather, dry home interiors and salt used to melt ice and snow on sidewalks and roads can all damage a dog’s feet.

During the heat of the summer, the hot ground, beach sand and chemicals used in the garden can get in the pads and paws and cause injuries or discomfort.

Cuts, Scrapes and Other Injuries

Small injuries can go from a simple cut to a major infection if the injury is not cleaned and treated. Watch for oozing, bleeding, raw sores, and calluses that have developed and change the way your dog’s nails grow or how their feet function.

Dogs that constantly chew at their paws can develop yeast infections that make their feet itch, which in turn makes them chew and agitate the irritation further.Foreign Matter

Dogs travel through every kind of terrain inside and outside. Because they do not usually wear foot coverings, their paws and the fur between the toes attract all types of foreign matter than can get imbedded in the skin, the fur, or between the toes. Bits of wood, small pebbles, splinters and other foreign matter can stay on your dog’s feet and irritate them. The longer the debris stays, the more chance it can injure the dog even if there is no initial injury.

Besides the possible damage externally from foreign matter and debris, a dog chewing their paws can ingest the debris and possible poisons from gardening maintenance and chemicals.

Trimming
If your dog has a lot of fur on their feet between their toes that gets matted easily or traps bugs, sticks, rocks or anything else, keeping the fur trimmed and groomed will help maintain healthy paws. Check the paw fur regularly for anything that can hurt your dog’s feet, and don’t forget to offer a CANIDAE biscuit as a reward for being good while you mess with his feet.

Prevention and Signs of Distress

During grooming, check the paws and pads of your dog’s feet carefully. Examine between the toes as well as the surface of the paws for cracks, cuts, foot injuries or any foreign matter that could cause problems.

Watch for limping, favoring one foot, walking gingerly, excessive licking of feet or toes, or biting at the fur between their toes. Sometimes simple changes in behavior such as these are obvious clues that something is uncomfortable or painful.

For extremes of weather, consider buying booties for your dog to help prevent seasonal injuries from occurring in the first place. Keep their feet clean, toenails trimmed, and check paws, pads, fur and toes after outdoor excursions, particularly in areas that have sharp objects or excessive debris.

If your dog has a severe injury, or one that is not healing or that you cannot treat, take them to the vet. They will be able to treat the injury, remove imbedded foreign matter, and give you needed medication. They may also give you tips on how to keep your dog’s feet and pads healthy.

You check your own feet on occasion and take care of things like dry skin or sore areas. In spite of the fact that dogs naturally go without covering their feet, they need the same care and protection. Your dog’s paws need loving care too!

Cold Weather Safety Tips

It is finally snowing here in Rochester, with tempatures dropping, PetSaver would like to warn you that Exposure to winter’s dry, cold air and chilly rain, sleet and snow can cause chapped paws and itchy, flaking skin, but these aren’t the only discomforts pets can suffer. Winter walks can become downright dangerous if chemicals from ice-melting agents are licked off of bare paws. To help prevent cold weather dangers from affecting your pet’s health, please heed the following advice from our experts:

Repeatedly coming out of the cold into the dry heat of your home can cause itchy, flaking skin. Keep your home humidified and towel dry your pet as soon as he comes inside, paying special attention to his feet and in-between the toes. Remove any snow balls from between his foot pads.

Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. If your dog is long-haired, simply trim him to minimize the clinging ice balls, salt crystals and de-icing chemicals that can dry his skin, and don’t neglect the hair between his toes. If your dog is short-haired, consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.

Bring a towel on long walks to clean off stinging, irritated paws. After each walk, wash and dry your pet’s feet and stomach to remove ice, salt and chemicals—and check for cracks in paw pads or redness between the toes.

Massaging paw protectants into paw pads before going outside can help protect from salt and chemical agents. PetSaver carries mushers secret and other paw protectors! Booties provide even more coverage and can also prevent sand and salt from getting lodged between bare toes and causing irritation. Use pet-safe ice melts whenever possible this is something you can pick up at PetSaver at an amazing low price. Greece, Monroe and Webster location will carry this product during the winter months.

Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol.

Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm in wintertime. Feeding your pet a little bit more during the cold weather months can provide much-needed calories, and making sure she has plenty of water to drink will help keep her well-hydrated and her skin less dry.

Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.

Remember, if it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside. If left outdoors, pets can freeze, become disoriented, lost, stolen, injured or killed. In addition, don’t leave pets alone in a car during cold weather, as cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death.

PetSaver is thrilled to be expanding into the Webster area and is set to open spring of 2016! The new location will be 980 Ridge Road, in the Webster plaza, Between the Webster library and the Scott Miller Salon & Spa! Construction starting now! Please tell all your friends! Thank you to our loyal shoppers for supporting our locally owned pet store throughout the years! Our great team can not wait to show Webster the PetSaver experience Rochester loves so much!

5 Reasons to Get a Coat for Your Dog

By Laurie Darroch

Some people may think dog coats are silly, but there are reasons a dog can benefit from wearing one in cold weather. Dog coats are not just a dress up item; they are a necessity for some dogs and weather conditions.

Encouragement

Some dogs are hesitant to step outside in the cold. It may take some encouragement to get them out the door to face a walk in the frigid snow. The added warmth of a coat designed for those conditions can help motivate your dog to go out into the chilly weather. If your dog is comfortable, he is more likely to cooperate and go out for the exercise he needs or to answer nature’s call.Age

Like humans, as dogs age their ability to handle the cold may lessen. They can’t migrate south for the winter, and may not be able to adapt fully to cold weather. As their guardian, it’s up to you to provide alternatives to help keep your dog as comfortable as possible in cold weather.

Puppies are also more susceptible to very cold or snowy weather. Their coat may not keep them warm, since they have not developed their full coats yet.

Illness

When your dog is sick or injured, he may be more susceptible to the effects of cold temperatures than when he is healthy. Resistance is lowered if your dog is not feeling well. Helping your pet maintain warmth in the cold will help keep him healthy.

Weather Extremes

Your dog may handle normal ranges of cold weather just fine. However, when the most extreme winter weather kicks in, the addition of a winter coat may be just the right thing to help them cope with the chill.

Size and Breed

The size and breed of your dog may determine the necessity of wearing warm outerwear to help combat extreme weather. Long or thick haired dog breeds are not likely to need the extra coverage and warmth a dog coat provides. They can overheat with the extra warmth. Dogs with naturally thick and long heavy coats are more likely to be built for the cold already. Dogs with short hair or breeds that have no thick undercoat are more likely to enjoy the added warmth.

Slender breeds or very small breeds can benefit from the extra warmth of a coat as well. Tiny dogs are just not equipped to handle the extreme winter temperatures. Slender breeds may not have the body mass needed to help keep them warm in the cold.

When to Put a Coat on Your Dog

Keep an eye on your dog in extremely cold weather. Their physical reactions and behavior changes can help you decide if they need a dog coat to stay warm. If your dog is shivering or wants to burrow down in warm bedding, they may be struggling to stay warm, even inside. In particularly cold climes, your dog may even need the added warmth a coat provides while indoors as well as out.

Dog coats vary greatly. Choose the appropriate fabric and style for your dog’s needs. Waterproof or resistant fabrics are a good choice in really wet weather. Wool or warm fleece are other options.

As a responsible pet owner, you may have to help your dog deal with chilly weather by putting a coat on them before they go outside to brave the biting winter cold. If your dog has never worn a coat and seems hesitant to put one on, offer them a tasty CANIDAE treat to facilitate the process. Once they see how much warmer and comfortable they are in their new coat, they’ll likely be more than willing to wear it!

ORIGIN AND HISTORY

For centuries, hunters in the Scottish Highlands kept sturdy dogs who were compact and fearless enough to go to ground after quarry. Today, no one is sure which of several terrier types found in the region was the ancestor of what is now called the Scottish Terrier, or “Scottie,” although it is likely that the Scottie, Cairn Terrier, and West Highland White Terrier are closely related. It is known, however, that dogs resembling today’s Scotties were brought out of Scotland sometime in the late 1870s by a Captain W. W. Mackie. They excelled at killing vermin and badgers on farms. By the 1880s, a breed standard had been set, and the Scottie gained admirers in England, Canada, and the United States.

PERSONALITY PROFILE

Full of character, the Scottie is intelligent, courageous, dignified, and loyal. He is fond of activities that appeal to his hunting instinct—chasing a ball, ridding a toy of its squeaker in a business-like fashion, taking long walks to keep tabs on the neighborhood. His strong instinct to go after quarry may extend to regarding the neighbor’s cat or a small pet as prey. Otherwise, though, he is even-tempered and deeply devoted to his family.

CARE REQUIREMENTS

Exercise: Daily exercise is essential in the form of a brisk walk or lively game.

Grooming: The Scottish Terrier should be brushed or combed a few times a week, with special attention paid to the shaggy furnishings on his head and the lower parts of his body. His “jacket”—the coat covering his neck, back, rump, and the top half of his shoulders and rib cage—is best maintained if kept fairly short by stripping or clipping every several months. Stripping preserves the hard texture of the outercoat.

Life Span: The average life span of the Scottish Terrier is 12 to 14 years.

Training: The Scottie is clever and has an independent spirit, and he will dominate the household unless taught to mind his manners from an early age. But he also has a strong desire to please, and praise from his owner will help win compliance.

7 Ways YOU Can Help Your Local Animal Shelter

Not everyone has the ability to write a check for their local shelters, but these animals need more than just your pocket change. Here are a few simple ways you can help your local animal shelter:

1. Donate Your Skills and Experience

Shelters need help from those with specialized knowledge and skills. For example, those who love taking photos or making videos of animals could be a huge help in closing the gap between animals and adopters. It takes a lot of skill to photograph a dog who just wants to play catch! But if you can do it, your skills would definitely help animals find homes.

2. Donate Your Time

Volunteering to spend time with the animals at your local shelter or rescue is an incredible gift, not only to the animals, but to those that work there. Animal shelters need all the extra hands they can get. There are a lot of dogs to walk and cats to groom. By donating your time to these animals, you will not only build relationships with them but you will begin to see the impact your spare time is having.

3. Donate Your Pet’s Used Items

Most animal shelters have a wish list that you can donate to. Maybe your dog isn’t interested in the toy you bought him so instead of burying it in the bottom of the toy box, donate it! Just because these animals are in shelters doesn’t mean they don’t like a good game of tug-a-war. You can contact your local animal shelter to find out more about some of the items they may need and that you might have lying around at home. Items like lightly used pet beds, food/water bowls, leashes and toys are always welcomed.

4. Donate Household Items

Do you have old towels and sheets that you don’t know what to do with? Donate them to your local animal shelter. Just ensure they are clean and washed properly as most shelters use them to provide comfortable bedding for cats and dogs. Even paper towels, pillows and wash cloths are needed. Animal shelters can get pretty messy considering their residents, so cleaning supplies including, laundry detergent, dishwashing liquids, bleach and soaps are all used to keep your local shelters clean and safe. Garbage bags, brooms, mops and sponges are all thoughtful donations.

5. Donate Grooming and Medical Supplies

Animals waiting in shelters rely on being groomed to look their best for potential adopters. Shampoo, pet soaps, brushes and combs are all needed in your shelters. Even flea and tick treatments are needed. All these pets deserve to get dolled up, especially if it will help them find a forever home. Consider donating medical supplies to help sick or injured animals. Anything from cotton and gauze products to vitamins and treatments can help save the lives of animals in need.

6. Donate Pet Foods and Formula

A large amount of the money donated by generous individuals goes toward buying pet food and milk formula. No one likes going to bed on an empty stomach, which includes the pets at your local shelters. Donate a few bags of food or formula to ensure those waiting to be adopted don’t go to bed hungry. Reach out to your local shelter to see if there are any specific brands they may require or treats the pets like.

7. Donate a Place in Your Home

Being a foster parent can be unimaginably rewarding. Giving an animal in need a place in your home allows them to feel something they may not have felt before, safe. Donating a place in your home will not only bring the animals spirits up, but it will be a fulfilling experience for you and your family. Contact your local animal shelter to find out more about fostering animals in need.